The online game Test for Champions questions the meaning of the words “strong man”
To mark the start 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence the Bulgarian Fund for Women is launching an online game, which aims to draw the attention of the male audience to the problem of violence against women.
BFW is convinced that men can play a central role in its elimination if they start to question stereotypes on what a “real man” and a “real woman” is meant to mean and if they change their attitude towards the issue of violence. The campaign attempts to raise awareness and to encourage men to take part in the process of achieving gender equality, which would lead to significant decrease in the number of victims of gender-based violence.
The findings of a 2016 study by the “Partners Bulgaria” foundation reveal that every third woman in Bulgaria is a victim of gender-based violence. According to a 2014 EU-wide survey of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, 33 per cent of women at the age 15 and above have been a victim of sexual and/or physical violence. Official data by the World Health Organization confirms these numbers.
The campaign can be accessed on testzashampioni.com and calls for boys and young men in Bulgaria to make a game test. The main goal of the game is not to entertain, but to remind that the problem of violence against women affects men just as much and that standing up for victim protection is a matter of ethics and moral strength.
The boxing game imitates the training shooter games, yet its main focus is not precision but the quick reaction of the player and his ability to grasp which target to hit or not. Its viewpoint is subjective – players can only see a pair of boxing gloves, a timer and moving speedy opponents. The catch is that among all boxer opponents there is a female target that pops as well, which the player should not punch. If he hits the woman, the following message appears: “Your Bad! A real champion never hits women”. If the player finishes and does not hit the female target, he receives the message “Well done! You’re a real champion! H’d never hit a woman!”
Traffic will be generated through social media and banners in the web pages of BTV media group, Sportal media group and the NGO portal of Bulgaria.
The campaign is supported by the International Women’s Club and the creative team of Direct Media KRES.
